By The Canadian Press

sexual assault

Former owner of the Needle Vinyl Tavern in Edmonton sentenced for sexual assault

Oct 25, 2019 | 3:41 PM

The owner of a former Edmonton live music venue who was accused of groping a female employee multiple times has been given an 18-month suspended sentence for sexual assault.

James Leder was sentenced Thursday after he previously pleaded guilty to assaulting the worker at the now-closed Needle Vinyl Tavern in March 2017.

The court heard Leder was drinking and was not working the night of the assault, but his victim was on shift.

Provincial court Judge Larry Anderson told the hearing that Leder commented on the employee’s appearance before he grabbed her buttocks on three occasions and laughed when she told him to stop.

He said another staff member intervened when Leder groped the victim a fourth time.

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The Crown had sought a 30-day jail term with probation, while the defence had asked for a discharge.